i think the age is the biggest factor in that decision at this point: he's 31.

other than that, i'm thinking his game only translates well in international hockey and wouldn't do so well in the NHL.

The biggest factor is, he never wanted to come over really. He's a Blue Jackets pick...they tried to bring him over and he wouldn't...super-skilled player, good friends with Zherdev in fact. I don't think Sarcastic was all that serious anyhow...some of these fixtures at the top of the KHL will not come over - Morozov, Moyzakin, Zinovjev, Ki.Koltsov, etc.